Sorry Brad and Jess, I got your letters this week lol, I sent one back to you so in 20 days check the mail. I'll be in Curitiba i think... So this last Friday was the day we went proselyting for the first time. We had been talking about it for a while but we didn't practice at all until the day before! That had me worried but I will tell you of the power of fasting and prayer. We wanted to be able to understand people and we wanted to find people that would listen to us, so we decided we would fast the Sunday before we went. The morning we were supposed to go proselyting I was way nervous. Our teacher took us out around Casa verde and we each had 2 BOMs and a couple pamphlets. We went up to this little park area and he told us we had 3 hours and told us that our first contact will be the hardest and that we just had to do it. Before we went we made little weird goals just to make sure we would talk to people. I put that I wanted to talk to a Dad with two kids, two teenagers, and an older woman on the street. Me and my companion said a prayer and we went out. We walked around the block before we decided to talk to a Lady with her granddaughter out in front of her house, she rejected us. At least I think that's what she did. Couldn't really tell. So we went back to the park to talk with Irmão Diniz and ask him how to say rejection in Portuguese. He told us to go talk to a group of teenagers because they would most likely laugh at us but they would listen, so we went. There were 4 guys and 1 girl. We were talking with them and I was just laughing and joking with them because I knew they probably wouldn't understand me so I just told them that we were missionaries and asked them if they had talked to missionaries before, they hadn't so I was like sweet! And just kinda told them we would teach them about the church. They laughed. So we started talking about God and found out none of them went to church, we were teaching about the book of Mormon and I noticed one kid that was really listening to me so I started directing the lesson towards him. I told him what a prophet was and bore my testimony to him about how the book of Mormon is true, and told them that it was the reason I was here, it was the reason I was trying to learn Portuguese because I found the truth and that they could find it too. I told them how happy I was because of the words of the Prophets and how they showed me a better way to live and that the joy I have now is because of and through this church. I gave the one kid (Clayton only with a Portuguese twist on the name) a BOM and showed him Moroni 10:4 and committed him to read, and he said he would. While I was talking with him and showing him the scripture another kid asked where I got the book from, so I told him it was translated through the prophet Joseph Smith and that it was an ancient record of the people in America. Then he got really quiet and I should have noticed then but I didn't, I was to focused on the other kid. So we left them and were walking across the street at the north end of the park when my companion was like, we should go back down that other street. (the one we just crossed) and I was like, yea, lets go. So we went back and when we were next to the park one of the teenagers came running up behind us. It was the one who asked the question about the book. His name is Julian. Julian said he had a question about that book I was holding, and so I started to explain again where it came from but then I stopped. I felt like I should ask him how he was feeling. I didn't expect that he would open up to me or anything but this is what he said. "I feel really bad. There are some things in my life that I just don't know what to do about and I want to know about that book." I can help you with that I said. I opened up to Mosiah 24:14 and had him read it aloud, I bore my testimony to him that in the BOM is another way, and that his heavenly father loves him and I just told him that I knew for sure that he could have peace and happiness in his life because I could see it in my own life, I gave him Moroni 10:4 and told him that if he would ask God if what I told him was true and what he was reading was true that he would get an answer. I gave him the missionaries number and told him to call them, that I know their message will help. That was just awesome. I did it all in Portuguese and he understood me and I understood him and I could tell he could feel something I could just see it in his face. I've been praying that he calls the missionaries and I feel good about it. We also, right after that, talked with a young guy on a bench and found out that he had taken 3 discussions but the missionaries finished their missions and nobody had talked to him again. He still had his BOM and he said that it was really interesting to him, we sat and talked with him for about 35 minutes, he was trying to learn English. He was a family counselor and worked with kids and helped them workout their problems with their family and other things like that. He said he used stuff the missionaries taught him in his work because it worked and he found it really interesting. How gold is that. We gave him a plan of Salvation pamphlet and gave him 2 nephi 2. He wanted us to come to his house later but we told him we were noobs and told him he could call the other missionaries and he said he definitely would. That was so amazing. Then we talked with a catholic lady whom we couldn't understand for squat so we gave her a plan of salvation pamphlet and said goodbye, then we talked with a guy and two kids who was a lawyer and who had lots of member friends and loved to talk about Joseph Smith, he had a BOM so we gave him a Restoration pamphlet and he gave us his card and told us that if we need anything in Brazil he would help us out for free. Basically I am all jacked and ready for the field like you wouldn't believe. I've been hitting the books super hard lately and I have come up with an idea. I am going to assign u guys to look up some stuff so I can see what you all find just for fun. That way I can see if you can help me and I'll teach you what I learn about it too. Everyone study faith this week. Not primary answers lol, get into it, I've done a little bit and its really really sweet. Okay I gotta go but I love you guys and I'll see you later =]

RE to my letter this morning

oh I forgot, you can send me pictures in my email yes, and I cant recieve packages at the mtc, and lets see, oh ya, I love you!

Oi familia

Hey Everybody! I just got back from the Campinas temple today, we didn't go to Sao Paulo because it was being cleaned or something. This temple is a lot cooler I think. Plus it was like an hour and a half away so I got to write some letters and study. We'll see if I have time to send them off today. We had another TRC deal this last week with the second lesson in Portuguese and it was amazing, before I went in there I couldn't say anything correct and I didn't have the lesson down so I was really nervous, my companion is really good with Portuguese but he speaks better than he understands and Im the opposite, so he can give the message but if they have questions we're in trouble. There really is a difference when you pray with intent. I just wanted to be able to tell the people what I knew from the lesson, and that was it haha. After that I just calmed down and Portuguese just made sense for a little while! The people usually only ask one or two questions but these guys asked like 10. I managed to put together an answer for all of them and it really was amazing because the night before when we practiced we failed. We're starting the third lesson now and I'm really excited because its the gospel of Christ lesson and its even more happy and hopefully then the other ones =]. Mom, thanks so much for sending me that letter about Jessica's talk, that made my week. I've already used her example while teaching like 3 times and its sooooo sweet to hear she's still doing good. The rice and beans are getting old. Never thought I'd say that. Only 4 more weeks till I'm in Curitiba! I'm so terrified! I mean excited! I really have a lot of stuff to learn in 4 weeks so its going to fly by. We are going proselyting on Friday. To real people. Out in the city. I don't even know what to say. Our Brazilian roommates left on Tuesday and that was really sad, I loved those guys. Elder Carvalho and Elder Borges. Elder Carvalho was 22 and got baptised when he was 16 and he was an amazing guy, he spoke English really well but he never did because he was a punk lol. Elder Borges learned to understand English in 3 weeks. When he arrived he didn't speak any at all, on Tuesday I didn't speak Portuguese to him at all and he responded to everything. Its okay though I don't feel to bad, I'm pretty sure he was a genius. How is everyone doing? I got X's picture! Thanks man! The other Elders in my district were way jealous =]. Brad and Jess, I hear nothing from you. What the heck? Idk if I told you guys about the new Elders we got in our district but they are funny, nowhere near as funny as Brad and Jess but it gets me by. We got 3 sister missionaries in our district this week. So now we have 11 people instead of 5. And that's how it is. Choose the right, Keep the faith. Love ya =] - oh and Sara I wrote you a letter, I haven't been ignoring you haha, should be there in less than a month, give or take a few =P

Deseret News Article

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700009708/The-Brazilian-MTC-is-filling-up-with-missionaries-again.html

Oi family =]

I got the first of the letters today, one from Sara and one from Dad, but that's all so far. Sara's took 23 days to get here! gah! So all this morning i was at the federal police trying to get my security card or whatever it is. I went with my district but they lost my application so everyone left and I stayed there with the church travel guy from Brazil. I need to tell you about this guy. Nacho libre with a missionary haircut. Really. He watched the movie and so he decided to learn English with that accent so anytime he says anything he says it exactly like Nacho, and he is one of the funniest guys I've ever met! He looks exactly like Jack Black so for about 6 hours today I was kickin it with Nacho. I enjoyed it. I also got to ride home in a Brazilian taxi. I've never been so terrified and amused at the same time. Mom I'm not sure how that print email thing works, I had to fill it out to get a free cookie haha, my bad. So this last week we did TRC which is like teaching experience where you teach members or people from around Sao Paulo. Eles não falam ingles. It was really interesting, we taught the first lesson and our teacher said we did alright, but he said it in the way that makes me think he was just saying it, so we wouldn't break down and cry again. Ha jk I don't cry.....So I read in dad's letter that the varsity got worked by everyone. That's cool. We play basketball here in like this semi outdoor gym and its pretty fun. I'm the only one who has played ball before. Our gym supervisor wanted to see a dunk, and so I did. Never again since then because I think the rice and beans act as some kind of gravity amplifying device. Or I got fat. idk. We started teaching the second lesson in Portuguese yesterday and I dont know what happened to me. I was doing really well speaking Portuguese but yesterday I just fell apart, and I'm worried. I've been studying and practicing it but its not clicking anymore. I'm not sure if I should study the doctrine more or the language at this point because on the one hand if I speak really well I wont have anything to say, and if I know the doctrine inside and out I wouldn't be able to express it. Besides that life's is sweet. I learned so much from church this week, I took nine pages of notes before the day was over, I would share something with you but I left my cuaderno somewhere else. I studied faith in personal study one of these past few days and it was really good. I don't know how to explain it, when you are given something you just die to share it. Being here the past 4 weeks has made me so stoked to get out in the field. Even when I teach in broken slow Portuguese and I manage to bear my testimony of the things I know for sure without a doubt and share the experiences I've had, and even though they are people pretending I just wish they would do what it says in Alma 32:27 and even if they can no more than desire, or hope that there is just a chance that something in my message can help, and would just experiment on my words, they would see it works! it really does! I'm not here in Brazil spreading fairy tales, I'm teaching truth. It really happened, Christ really paid for our sins and suffered our pains, and prophets are called of God and do reveal his will! I realized that this week and really makes me want to be bold. Before I came out here I was ashamed of the gospel of Christ, I missed a lot of opportunities to invite people to walk the most important path they will ever walk. That is gone for sure. I have to go, I miss you guys and love you all !!! bye =]

Dear Mom

Hey Mommy! We can't email you because it's very complicated here, but it's my p-day and I think we'll be figuring it out pretty soon. So the Brazilian people are amazing! I wish I would have taken some pictures with some of these Brazilhiero Elders before they left because they were amazing guys. They are insanely friendly and are so patient with us dumb slow Americans, haha. The Portuguese is coming, slowly, but I'm learning . I just can't wait to be able to actually talk with these people because they are all so nice and could teach me sooo much, if I could understand them! It's nice to be surrounded by the language, it helps a lot but at the same time kind of depressing because you see exactly how far there is to go. My teachers here are awesome. We have a zone leader who's a teacher because we don't have hardly anyone in our district and he's so funny, he always makes fun of Americans. It's so weird because we can't read Brazilians at all. We can't tell when they're messing with us! Its entertaining to them. lol One Brazilian Elder always talks to us in Spanish right after we get out of Portuguese class, and my comps are like, "I can't understand these people!" "it sounds nothing like Portuguese!" and I'm like, "its because he's speaking Spanish Elder.... and then the Brazilians just laugh and give us all a hug, he's so funny. My comps are Elder VanHorn, and Elder Coltrin. Elder VanHorn is from Monroe WA and we have a lot in common, but Elder Coltrin is from Phillidelphia. We have some struggles and personality conflicts sometimes but overall its a peaceful trio. The MTC is a beautiful place. Built like a temple with awesome granite and hardwood. They used leftover supplies from the Sao Paulo Temple and its really cool. But I'm already anxious to get out in the field. My testimony has grown a lot since I've been here and my soul feels a peace that I haven't felt in a long time, possibly never before. My prayers are answered everyday and I really feel myself beginning to change. I'm already in love with this culture and the people and look to the future with great anticipation:-) I hope everything is well at home, I love you and appreciate your example in showing me how to not be judgemental my whole life, it helps a lot that Ive already learned this lesson. Moroni 8:3

Elder Jacob Romm

Sweetlove!

Yay! im soo glad i got an email through finally!! Okay, so anyone in my family can email me so bring the rain, but i can only email mom back because of time, but they also have a thing here where you email me and they print it out and send it to me, it costs money but its same day kind of deal. I havent gotten any letters in the mail yet so it really is slow stuff down here. I'm so glad to hear how you guys are doing! Brads sick still? karma. He got me sick but I got over it quick, then got it again this last week and got better again. So I must admit I forgot most of the questions you guys asked because I was speed reading, but I can tell you this... Rice and beans are amazing. EVERYDAY! The food is way good. My teachers are so smart. I know so little about teaching the gospel and I decided that if I had my face in the scriptures every spare minute I have while in the CTM then pai celestial would make a missionary out of me yet. Wow this keyboard is fail. So yea we get to go outside on p-day whenever we want and just walk around Sao Paulo. We've been goin to the temple so I've been twice now. Its a really sweet temple! Lets see, I need to organize my thoughts before I come to email because I know there is just a yay yay nay nay load of stuff I want to tell you...Legal is a portuguese word that means like cool or legit. Thats bomb. My companion is elder Van Horn and we get along great. He's hilarious and looks like Ace Ventura and makes all the faces just out of nature lol. I bust my gut everyday. If anyone has advice for me in personal study or learning to teach better then hook me up. Jared Hodgy im lookin at you. I hear that rio is like the most dangerous place around lol. The brazilians are so dang funny. A big group just left yesterday and I'm sad, they were our neighbors but we got like 50 more this week. More Amercans are showin up too. I met an elder Trent who went to High School with Kevin Hodgy. Cool guy. Fetch I cant type nearly as fast as I can think, this is problematic for sure,dunno if thats a word. I'm happy here!!! I take for granted how fast my prayers are answered and I dunno why but the CTM turned me into an even bigger baby. Were you guys trying to make me cry with all your loving e-mails? comon! Okay well I better get goin, tell Clark I love him too Steph haha,SARAH! Yes you can email me and don't worry about the sweats, its an inferno here. It rains everyday but for like 1 hour a day. and hard. Like a rain forest or somthing,imagine that! We got three new elders in our district,they are hilarious, one is just like Dylan Idler, its trippy, and Brad there is an Elder here who talks about his body and acts like how you pretend to be alot. If that makes sense, only he's not acting and its pretty funny to me. Jesse, you are a Brazilian. Touchy feely and loving. All you sick people need to get better, deffinitely a bummer and this is a bummer free zone. HAH not, but more about that later =] Shell I miss you too! I miss my sisters so bad! I love my fam. you guys are legal x abajillion.5 I have to walk to the post office to mail letters so mail me haha. I sent a letter to mom a while ago but I have some more to send so expect them in a month. Ugh. There is no time to email. I can understand portuguese! when they speak slow...like uber slow haha. I cant talk very good yet but im more worried about what my message is right now. I've got another awesome teaching story that I just remembered too. I figured out that you listen to the spirit no matter what makes sense in your head, we taught a great first lesson but I ignored a prompting at the end and later our teacher told us what that we should have talked about gaining faith in Heavenly Father, and during the lesson Alma 32:27 popped into my head and I was like, its the end of the lesson that wouldn't fit at all so I ignored it. Fail...I felt so bad, I'm getting better at listening but its still newish. It really is amazing. I've never been a scripture mastery buff so it was insane the first time I experienced the promise in D and C when scriptures are brought to you in the very hour you need them, and its given you exactly what ye shall say. Its amazing because sometimes its news to even you! then you cry. gah. Oh well. crying never created an awkward moment. roflcakes. I love you mom and dad! I got some questions for you guys but idk when i'll get to ask them. I love you guys! write me! If you post this on the blog, Hi Sara! =] you write me too! haha. Seriously tho guys. do it.